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Former EVANESCENCE Drummer ROCKY GRAY Comments On His Departure

Rocky Gray, longtime drummer for multi-platinum rockers EVANESCENCE, has confirmed reports that he has quit the band.

Best known prior to EVANESCENCE as the guitar player for seminal Christian metal bands LIVING SACRIFICE (a band whose members went on to join P.O.D., NORMA JEAN and more) and SOUL EMBRACED, Rocky joined EVANESCENCE shortly after the recording of their debut album, "Fallen". The CD featured a reworked version of a SOUL EMBRACED song written by Rocky, "Tourniquet", and sold over 12 million copies worldwide.

Rocky is the third band member to leave EVANESCENCE since the recording of the band's second album, "The Open Door".

In a statement issued today (Saturday, May 5), Gray said about his departure, "Amy Lee's [EVANESCENCE vocalist] management emailed me last night to tell me that, in their view, the contract I signed to record, perform and tour with the group says that I'm not allowed to have any free speech in regard to EVANESCENCE. The way they spin it, I'm not even allowed to say I quit the group, I guess. But the news is out there, so, there ya' go. I need to have a lawyer read over all that mess to tell me what, when and how I can tell you all — the REAL FANS — what really went down, if I ever can, haha."

In the meantime, there is plenty to report about Rocky that does not involve EVANESCENCE.

Originally formed ten years ago, the newly reinvigorated SOUL EMBRACED (which reunites Gray with LIVING SACRIFICE drummer Lance Garvin) has a wealth of new material. The band is finalizing a new recording agreement to release their next album. New songs include "Kill This", which is on their MySpace now.

In addition to SOUL EMBRACED, Rocky will continue playing with MACHINA alongside former EVANESCENCE guitarist John LeCompt. And there are a couple more projects which will be announced soon.

"Ya'll ain't ever heard the last from me until the good Lord decides to take me home," Rocky cracked. "Peace to all of the fans who support me and everyone who knows the real deal. And of course to my wife, kids, John, Ben, Will, everybody who's real. See ya'll on the road soon!"

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